RECYCLING FOR CHANGE
P.O. Box 6366
Kane `ohe, HI 96744
808/247-6366 ext. 2#
E-Mail: info@recycling4change.com
BUST-A-DUMPER Campaign Against Illegal Dumping
and
Abandoned & Derelict Vehicles Anywhere in Hawai`i
Website: bust-a-dumper.org
E-mail: info@bust-a-dumper.org
LAST UPDATED: May 12, 2009
All RECYCLING FOR CHANGE proceeds are used to educate residents, visitors, businesses, policymakers, and the media about critical environmental & cultural issues in our shared efforts to preserve, protect, restore & enjoy in culturally & environmentally appropriate ways the land, the water & the air as well as the flora & the fauna who live on, in, under, or above them.
LEGISLATIVE & HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL UPDATES
Two bills dealing with recycling and derelict vehicles are now sitting on Governor Lingle's desk for further action - she can sign them, veto them, or let them pass into law weithout her signature.
HB 1422 CD1 allows county governments to remove derelict vehicles from privately-owned roads provided that the property owner agrees in writing to allow the City's contractor to come onto the road, to pick up the towing costs, and to indemnify the City against any damage claims arising from removing & disposing the vehicle.
Unfortunately, the law sunsets on January 1, 2010, so the counties will only have six months to deal with matters - and, of course, there's no guarantee that people will stop dumping derelicts after the bill expires.
The second law, HB 1809 CD1, awaiting Da Gov's decision sets up a formal televion recycling program. Unfortunately, a bill dealing with a broader range of electronic waste recycling issues is in limbo until next year.
Another bill which would have required large retailers such as Costco to set up recycling centers at their stores as well as to extend the reverse vending machine rebate program has been deferred.
In fact, the conferees never met to discuss the differences between the House & Senate versions.
NOTE: All bills except for those in which a formal rollcall vote in committee to hold it are still alive and can be brought "back to life" next session.
############
Meanwhile, the Honolulu City Council continues to push shipping O`ahu's trash across the Pacific Ocean to a privately-owned landfill in Washington State where it will be processed into methane gas to be sold to utility companies in Washington and Oregon. The landfill is approximately 150 miles inland along the Columbia River.
The anticipated shipping costs in the City's operating budget will be $10,000,000.
In addition to raising fees and property taxes to help reduce an anticipated $40,000,000 budget deficit, the City Council has proposed reducing specific items in the Department of Environmental Services' proposed Operating Budget.
The Windward Ahupua`a Alliance is challenging both the Honolulu City Council and the Hannemann Administration's proposals to ship trash, cut programs, raise fees, and create a Landfill Site Selection Committe to replace the current one on the Leeward Coast.
If you're interested in the status of state or county actions in dealing with solid waste management & recycling issues, please call 246-6366 ext. 2#.
A BRIEF HISTORY
Back in January, 2005, the Windward Ahupua`a Alliance, a non-profit founded in July, 2002, initiated a recycling program to help support the Beverage Container Deposit Law passed by the Hawai`i State Legislature in 2002 after more than three decades of Try, Try Again.
Unfortunately, implementing the new law turned out to be a logistical nightmare for a number of reasons - mostly political - so it didn't get off to a very good start. WAA quickly realized that it needed to step in to fill a much-needed gap by making it easy to do the right thing starting here in Windward O`ahu.
By the end of January, 2005, WAA's first two redemption programs were in full swing: Staffing a weekly drop-off point alternating between Kailua & Kane`ohe for people donating their cans & bottles to WAA for the redemption fee; and, providing recycling services for other community organizations putting on special events. Eventually, we settled on the name RFC Special Events Recycling Services for this program. See below for details.
In early February, 2005, we began offering pick-up services anywhere on O`ahu with a minimum of 100 eligible cans & bottles. Although this service was originally designed for businesses, construction sites, restaurants, bars, retail stores, and office buildings, we started offering the same service to individuals and families as long as the minimum number of 100 containers is met at each pick-up site.
By the end of March, 2005, we knew that we had to have a physical location which is when we initiated our search for a commercial/industrial landlord who might even be a tad bit socially-conscious. It soon became apparent that finding a great location at a reasonable price in reasonably decent condition wasn't going to happen any time soon.
But still we kept looking .... and .... looking .... and .... looking some more. But by July, 2005, we reluctantly put the search on hold while we focus on developing other aspects of the business.
NOTE: Three and a half years later, we still haven't found a location.
Three months later in May, 2005, we had to discontinue weekly drop-off sites alternating between Kane`ohe & Kailua because the payoffs were too problematic. One week we might collect 500-600 cans and the next week 35 and the following week none; all that means is that someone still had to sit at the drop-off site for three hours without knowing what was going to happen on that particular day.
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PICK-UP SERVICES
RECYCLING FOR CHANGE provides FREE pick-up services anywhere on O`ahu in exchange for the redemption fee as long as each stop generates at least 100 eligible cans or bottles.
Pick-ups can be arranged from once a month to as often as twice a week on pre-determined schedules. For more information, call 247-6366 ext. 2#, 224-4496, 224-4496, or 223-4481.
RFC SPECIAL EVENTS SERVICES
Besides pick-up services anywhere on O`ahu, RECYCLING FOR CHANGE's second major program is its RFC Special Events Services for community groups such as schools, churches & other non-profits holding fundraisers anywhere on O`ahu.
Here's the deal: RFC will provide labeled recycling bins, large garbage sacks, and periodic clearing out of the bins during your Very Special Event. It will then remove the bins & bags when the event is pau, process the containers, and transport them to a redemption center. Clients have the choice of taking 40% of the redemption fees collected or donating the entire amount to WAA.
Most community events such as school fun fairs and church rummage sales will generate about $30 - $50 all totaled in recycling fees. We have found that most groups feel that this is a very small price to pay for doing the right thing - recycling - and for helping WAA continue its own programs.
More importantly, they don't have to tie up their own volunteers.
RFC Special Events Services are also offered to business & individual clients for special events such as corporate picnics or family reunions in exchange for keeping the entire redemption fee.
If your organization is planning a special event and would like to work with us to provide this service, please call 247-6366 ext. 2#, 224-4496, 224-4496, or 223-4481.
CUSTOM-DESIGNED INDOOR HI-5 RECYCLING BASKETS
RECYCLING FOR CHANGE now has indoor recyling baskets suitable for office lunchrooms and other common areas which not only encourage recycling but also do it in style. These baskets can also be used at home and even outdoors provided that there is adequate protection from heavy rains.
The baskets come in two sizes and are decorated with a variety of recycled materials to meet seasonal or permanent themes. The smaller size sells for $12.50 and the larger one for $15 plus 4.5% General Excise Tax. There's also a $5 delivery charge.
NOTE: The purchase fee is waived if buyer signs up for weekly REECYCLING FOR CHANGE pickup services for one year with a 100-can minimum per stop. The delivery fee is waived if the buyer signs up for three months of service. Additional bins delivered at the same time will receive a 10% discount.
For more information, call 247-6366 ext. 2#, 224-4496, or 223-4481 or send an e-mail to recycling4change.com.
RECYCLING DRIVES
&
COMMUNITY CLEANUP PLANNING SERVICES
RECYCLING FOR CHANGE works with schools, churches, youth groups, service clubs, community associations, businesses, and other organizations to design ongoing recycling programs or an intensive community cleanup targeted against illegal dumping & derelict vehicles. This is part of our ongoing BUST-A-DUMPER Campaign Against Illegal Dumping and Abandoned & Derelict Vehicles Anywhere in Hawai`i.
Fees charged for these services are negotiable. Please call 247-6366 ext. 2# or 223-4481 for more information.
For more information about current RECYCLING FOR CHANGE programs or to suggest new ones, please call 247-6366 ext. 2# or 224-4496 or send an e-mail to info@recycling4change.com. If you know of possible commercial/industrial rental space either in Kane`ohe or the Iwilei through the airport area, please let us know right away.